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The Firing of George Zimmer: Men’s Warehouse Customers Don’t Like The Way It Looks

The social media verdict has been swift and certain: George Zimmer is a popular guy. It seems that consumers don’t like the way this looks and are guaranteeing Men’s Warehouse knows about it. Add this to the retail hit parade that includes J. C. Penney’s disastrous attempt to also “skew younger and hipper”.

Via Yahoo:

“Companies can fire a founder. But they can’t fire his brand.

That’s the dilemma Men’s Wearhouse is left with after dumping its founder and spokesman, George Zimmer, a decision announced Wednesday. Mr. Zimmer had starred in the suit retailer’s commercials for almost 30 years, guaranteeing men that “you’re going to like the way you look.”

On Thursday, a day after the company’s terse announcement, reaction on social media continued to be fast and furious, indicating that Mr. Zimmer had made the jump from business executive to cultural icon. “George Zimmer” was one of the top searches on Google on Wednesday, and news of the firing made the gossip sites TMZ and Gawker.

And the Men’s Wearhouse Facebook page had more than 200 comments criticizing the company for ousting Mr. Zimmer, with sentiments like “If George Zimmer isn’t coming back, neither am I!” and riffs on Mr. Zimmer’s signature ad closer like “You’re going to miss the way I shopped. I guarantee it.”

Men’s Wearhouse has not said whether it will continue running the television commercials featuring Mr. Zimmer; the company had recently been evaluating their effectiveness, Richard Jaffe, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, said.”–Via Yahoo